Article positioning and control mechanism

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for registering articles releaseably adhered to a liner with a predetermined station for printing, punching, dispensing, etc. The apparatus includes a movable article guideand registering-member comprising spaced transversely extending blades engageable with the strip of articles and positioned a predetermined distance from said station such that upon movement of the articles toward said predetermined station and movement of said registering member a predetermined extent the desired position of the articles relative to the station may be readily maintained.

D United States Patent [151 3,650,876 Stageberg 51 Mar. 21, 1972 [54]ARTICLE POSITIONING AND 3,425,346 2/1969 Voigt et a1. ..156/384 CONTROLMECHANISM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS If E. [72] Invent stagebergMmneapws 172,916 9/1960 Sweden ..156/361 [73] Assignee: Minnesota Miningand Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn. Primary ExaminerSamuelFeinberg Filed: p 1 1969 AttorneyK1nney, Alexander, Sell, Steldt &Delahunt [21] App]. No.: 817,528 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus forregistering articles releaseably adhered to a 52 us. c1 ..156/584,221/73 liner with a predetermined Station for Priming, P g, 51 Int. Cl.1332!) dispensing, The aPParatus includes a movable article 58 Field ofSearch 156/361, 540, 344, 384, 584; guideand registefing'memberComprising SPaced "ansverse- 221/73 ly extending blades engageable withthe strip of articles and positioned a predetermined distance from saidstation such 5 6] References Cited that upon movement of the articlestoward said predetermined station and movement of said registeringmember a predeter- N D S T TS mined extent the desired position of thearticles relative to the station may be readily maintained. 3,405,02110/1968 Marano ...156/361 3,485,414 12/1969 Dinter ..221/73 13 Claims, 7Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZI I972 SHEET 1 [1F 2 FIG- 3 FIG. I

I N VEN TOR W LFREflESMGEBERG ATTORNEYS PATENTEDMARZI 1972 SHEET 2 OF 2INVENTOR.

W/L FRED E STAGEBERQ,

W I I MIX/ M BY M A 'r TORNE KS ARTICLE POSITIONING ANDCONTROL'MECHANISM This invention relates to an improved positioning orregistering apparatus for articles releaseably adhered to a liner and inone aspect to an improved device for registering and positioning labels,releaseably secured by a pressure-sensitive adhesive to' a liner, at apredetermined station, for example, a printing station or a dispensingand applicating station.

Many different systems have been utilized to facilitate registration ofarticles carried by a web at a particular station and one such use isthe dispensing of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated labels and applyingthe same to packages or products as the products are moved along aconveyor line or belt to as sure the proper placement of a label on eachof the products. Often times the products are moved at a predeterminedspeed in a predetermined spaced relationship such that the sequentialfeeding, dispensing, and applying of the labels to the products may beachieved. In other instances, the movement of the products along theline is sporadic, thus the labeldispensing and applicating machine isoperated in an intermittent manner in response to each of said productsto be labeled reaching the labelling station. In either apparatushowever, it is important to time the operation of the dispensingmechanism for the labels with the movement of the articles or productsto be labeled to assure that a separated label is positioned, ready oravailable to be applied on the product when a product is at thelabelling station. 'To accomplish this, there have been many attempts toarrive at an accurate registering mechanism to perform this controlfunction near the applicating station. In the prior art, there areseveral patents disclosing various types of sensing devices. These US.Pat. Nos. includes 2,939,599, issued toSchluter; 2,987,591, issued toOrtenblad; 3,039,516, issued to Vinal; 3,240,652, issued to La Mers; and3,405,021; issued to Marano.

All of these systems, however, have failed to completely meet the needin controlling of the labels because they either I) operate preciselybut not rapid enough to meet increased demands of labelling equipment;2) mar or scratch the surface of the label over which they slide orride; 3) mar the edges of the labels which they engage; 4) fail todetect the presence of thin label stock; and 5) upon rapid operation aharmonic is set up or the speed of movement in the movablesensors issuch that the sensors occasionally miss contact with alabel.

The device of the present invention has as one of its advantages theversatility of being useable, with minor modifications, for severalmodes of operation as concerns theproduct control.

It is a further advantage of the present inventionto provide morepositive registration even if the articles or-labels occasionallyoverlap or are otherwise unevenly spaced on the liner.

In one mode of operation of the'present invention, the registeringmember is continuously moving, allowing for precise registration athigher speeds since there is no mass to accelerate and decelerate eachtime it is desired to advance or register a new label at the labellingstation.

The present invention, therefore, has the general advantage of providingan improved article-dispensing and registering apparatus.

The feeding and registering device of the present invention comprisesmeans for supporting a supply strip of stock comprisingpressure-sensitive adhesive labels adhered releasably to a liner, meansdefining a path from the supply to a predetermined station to perform aspecifiedfunction on the item, means for driving the stock along saidpath by drawing the liner through said station, and an improvedregistering device for the strip to register the labels with respect toa work station such that a label on the liner will be positioned fortreatment at the station, for example, application to a product as aproduct reaches the labelling station. The improved registering memberis positioned between the supply andthe station to form a bend in thepath of the strip and to guide the strip to the station. The registeringmember is formed with a plurality of spaced blades having an edgeextending transversely, preferably normal to the path of the strip andmovable along the path of the strip to contact the liner between thelabels and thereby upon registering the position of the blades,determine the position of the labels. The blades are positioned in apredetermined spaced relationship to contact the liner between thelabels and the registration member is so positioned relative to thestation to properly register a label at said station upon completion ofa predetermined movement of said registering member and the blades alongthe path.

tion of the registering member of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a detailed elevational view of a further modification of aregistering member of the present invention; and

F IG.7 is a schematic elevational view of a further modification of theregistering member according to the present invention.

The present invention, as aforementioned, finds utility in theregistration of labels and there is illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawingan apparatus for dispensing pressure-sensitive adhesive labels 10 whichare releaseably mounted on a liner 11 at a station where they may beapplied to an article 12 moved along a line or conveyor 14 in amanufacturing, canning or packaging line in a plant.

The label-dispensing apparatus comprises a frame 15 having means thereonsuch as the spindle 16 for supporting a supply source of the stripmaterial including the labels l0 and line 11. This source of supply maybe in the form of a convolutely would roll 17. The strip of labels isguided from the supply roll 17 along a path partially defined by aplaten 20 projecting outward from the frame 15 and inclined relative tothe bottom of the frame terminating in a transverse separating edge 21around which the liner is drawn to dispense the labels 10 from the liner11 by peeling the liner from beneath the labels. At this edge the label10 may be applied to the article 12 by means of an applicating orbuffing roll or, the label station can be defined by a verticallyreciprocating plunger which would receive and hold the dispensed labeland move the label down into contact with the product to be labeled.Alternatively, the label could be dispensed onto a vacuum wheel whichwould carry the label around into contact with the article 12.

The strip material is guided onto the platen 20 by a guide roller 22 andthe strip is pulled along the platen 20 and about the edge by having theliner extend back along the underside of the platen 20 through the niparea between a driven roll 24 anda pinch or idling roller 25. Theimproved guide and registering member, which will hereinafter bedesignated as a label-registering member'26, is positioned along thepath of the label stock between the source of supply and the separatingedge and serves to guide the strip and also to register the position ofthe labels with respect to the separating edge. The label-registeringmember 26 is mounted for movement to position the strip along the path,such as by rotation about the axis of a shaft 27 upon which the member26 is supported. The

label-registering member 26 comprises a plurality of spaced blademembers 29 which terminate in an edge extending transversely of thestrip path and which edge has one sharp comer to engagethe strip andabut the end of the labels 10. The label-registering member 26 ispositioned to form a bend in the path of the strip between the source 17and the station or separating edge 21. The blades 19, as illustrated inFIG. I, radiate from a hub 30 which is supported on the shaft 27. Inthis instance the blades 29 are circumferentially spaced and the blades29 are formed with a generally radially projecting portion and arearwardly inclined or trailing end portion forming an obtuse angle withthe radial portion. The contact between the edge of the blades and thelabel stock is preferably such that when the label stock is in contactwith the edges of two adjacent blades 29 it is disposed such that theincluding angle between the label strip and a blade is 90 as illustratedby the angle a. Thus the sharp or 90 corner defining the blade edgecontacting the label ends will be perpendicular to the label face andthe path of travel ofthe label stock.

The label-registering member 26 may be operated in several ways and asillustrated the shaft 27 can have a registering disk 31 affixed theretowhich disk is formed with a plurality of cireumferentially spacednotches or detents 32 corresponding in number to the number of blades onthe registering member 26 times the number of labels or articles to bedisposed on the liner between the blades. In the illustrated embodimentthere are six spaced blades 29, a single label is disposed between eachof the blades, and thus there are six detents 32 circumferentiallyspaced about the registering disk. The label-registering member 26preferably places a constant back tension on the strip oflabel stock. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, a pawl 33 is engageable with the detents. Asprocket wheel 34 is drivingly connected to the shaft 27 through a slipclutch 35 and the sprocket wheel 34 is driven from a shaft 36 connectedto the driven roller 24. The driven roller 24 is connected through aslip clutch 37 to the shaft 36 to be driven from the shaft 36. The shaft36 carries a sprocket wheel 39 which is connected by a chain 40 to thesprocket wheel 34 in such a manner that the sprocket wheel 34 andlabel-registering member 26 are driven at a speed to move the edges ofthe blades 29 slower than the linear speed of the strip material drivenby roller 24 when the slip clutch 37 is permitted to pull the liner 11along the path. Thus a constant tension is maintained on the strip oflabel stock at all times and at least one label and the liner aremaintained in engagement with the blades 29. The shaft 36 and drivenroller 24 may be initially driven by a chair 41 connecting the outputpulley or sprocket 42 of a motor and or motor and gear transmission 43to a pulley 44 mounted on the shaft 36.

In operation the slip clutch 37 maintains a tension in the strip oflabel material drawing the same tightly about the blades of thelabel-registering member 26, and upon movement ofa product 12 by aconveyor to the labelling station the product would strike or actuate aconventional product switch (not shown) or product sensing member,affording the release of the pawl 33 from a detent 32 of the registeringmember to rotate under the driving force of the chair 40 until the pawl33 again engages a detent 32. As the member 26 rotates the stock ispulled by the drive roll 24 and idler roller 25. The product switch mayeffect release of the pawl 33 by the operation of a solenoid suitablyconnected to the pawl or by mechanically lifting the pawl outofengagement with the detent 32.

In another mode of operation an electrically operated stepping clutchcan be substituted for the slip clutch 35 between the sprocket wheel 34and the shaft 27 such that upon actuation of a product switch by theproduct to be labeled the stepping or indexing clutch will drive thelabel-registering member 26 through a partial revolution, e.g., 60. Thisadvances the blades to permit the advance of a label to the station tobe applied to a product, to advance a label to permit lamination as theproduct moves through the station, or to position another label at thestation after a previous label has been applied. The alternatives, asconcern the relationship of label stock movement and product movementare variable. The stepping clutch for partial revolution can be obtainedfrom Precision Specialties Inc., Pitman, New Jersey, a manufacturer ofsolenoid actuated wrap-spring clutches with special stop collars forincremental movements less than one revolution. In each instance whenthe registering member stops the liner is pulled until a label abuts ablade positioning another label at the station.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is illustrated a further modification ofthe label dispenser. In this embodiment there is shown a supply of thelabel stock 50 which is threaded along a predetermined path about alabel-registering member 51 having blades 52 guiding the label stockonto the platen 53 and across the transverse separating edge 54 with theliner being moved between a driven roll 56 and an idler roll 57. Thedriven roll 56 is driven through a slip clutch 59 from a shaft 60connected by a belt 61 to a pulley 62 carried on a shaft 63 whichsupports label-registering member 51. The pulley 62 is driven in timedrelation with the product conveyor 64 by a belt 65 connected to thepulley 62 and driven through a suitable pulley 66 and rollers or gears67 and 68 from the conveyor 64 or conveyor drive rollers.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 the strip of label stock 50 is driven intimed relation with the movement of the conveyor 64 which transmits thearticles 12 and affords the proper register ofa label with the conveyorbelt because the position of the strip of label stock 50 is controlledby engagement of the blades 52 on the label-registering member 51 withthe label stock between the successive labels. The provision for theoverdrive on the drive roller 56 through the slip clutch 59 ismaintained to keep the label stock under tension at all times and intocontact with the blades 52 but the contact of the blades 52 with thestrip material under this tension maintains the blades in contact withthe strip material between successive labels.

This modification prevents the need for accelerating or deceleratingeither the drive roller 56 to drive the label stock or thelabel-registering member 51 and a very high speed label applicator ispossible where the movement of the articles on the conveyor is alsocontinuous and regular.

It is to be understood however that the speed of label stock 50 does notmatch that of the conveyor as the labels are generally placed centrallyof each article and the articles therefore travel faster than the liner.The normal gear reduction necessary to coordinate the label movementwith feeding or conveying means or with other operations, i.e., printingetc., would require only mechanical skill.

As a a further alternative, the pulley 66 or article feeding membercould be directly connected to the pulley on the shaft 60 and thelabel-registering member could be free wheeling except possibly for useof a retarding device, a spring biased pawl and detents, to aid inmaintaining tension on the label stock between the label-registeringdevice 51 and the separating edge 54 as the articles to be labeled areadvanced.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment illustrating a modification of alabel-registering member 71 which is formed similar to thelabel-registering member of FIG. 1 but having end portions of the blades72 disposed at an angle relative to the radius and in a direction towardthe direction of movement of the registering member 71 to afford contactwith the liner and the butt or trailing end of one or more labels 10such that in this form the label-registering member 71 serves to drivethe label stock and pull the same from the supply roll and the driveroll for the liner will serve to take up any slack between thelabel-registering member 71 and the label separating edge. In this formthe dispensing mechanism would have a product actuated switch toenergize the stepping clutch to drive the registering member 71 in astepwise manner through an increment of a revolution to draw the labelstock from the supply roll and drive the labels concomitantly to place asingle label, each time a product to be labeled tripped the switch, atthe station.

FIG. 5 illustrates a further modification for the label-registeringmember and a further variation in the mode of operation. In thisembodiment a label-registering member 75 has a hub mounted on a shaftwith radially extending blades formed with the sharp corner on the edgeand the rounded corner. In this embodiment a stepping clutch is utilizedand upon a product approaching the labelling station, a switch will betripped to energize the stepping clutch, allowing the label-registeringmember 75 to be advanced. In this embodiment the label-registeringmember has a peripheral speed at the outer ends of the blades exceedingthe lineal speed with which the liner and label stock can be advanced bythe feed rollers 24 and 25 once the stepping clutch is actuated, suchthat the member 75 moves through an increment of revolution much fasterthan the liner is moved the length of one label and will stop, and uponthe subsequent advancement of the liner the labels will be pulled acrossthe stationary blades until one or more of the blades again contact theliner between labels and the leading edge of the labels will stopfurther feed of the liner through the drive roller and slip clutchconstruction. In this mode there is contact with the face of the labels.

FIG. 6 is a modification of a label-registering member formed with sixblades which are disposed on a hexagonal hub supported on a shaft. Inthis species the registering member 76 has the blades positioned tocontact the label stock at an angle of 90 when the label stock is inengagement with two adjacent blades.

FIG. 7 illustrates still a further embodiment of the label-registeringmember, and in this embodiment the registering member takes the form ofan endless belt 77 upon which are formed equally spaced transverselyextending blades 78. This member is disposed in a position along thepath of the label stock 79 between the supply and the separating edge orstation and the blades are spaced such that the blades will contact theliner and position the labels in register with the station. In thismodification the blades contact the label stock moving along the pathdefined by a guide 80 and are placed in contact with the stock under thebias of a suitable spring biased shoe 81. The movement of the belt 77permits movement of the label stock and when the blades and belt stopthe label stock will be stopped by contact with the free edge of theblades as in the modifications of FIG. 1. Determining the position ofthe blades thus determines registration of the labels. The position ofthe blades on the registering member may be determined by the bladesengaging a switch 82 or by an associated cam with lobes corresponding tothe number and spacing of said blades actuating a switch or othersignaling device.

The registering member of the present invention is formed such that theblades have outer edges successively contacting the ends of the labelson the liner to control, through contact with the ends of the labels,the relative movement and position of the label stock to the registeringmember and to the station. The blades of the registering member are in apredetermined spaced relation, determined by the label stock and themode of operation of the registering member. The spacing between themember 26 and the station or edge 21 along the strip path is alsopredetermined. Thus, there are certain parameters which aid in designingthe registering member. Each blade must have an outer strip engagingedge portion thin enough to enter the space between two successivelabels on the liner 1]. The edge will preferably contact the liner whenlabel stock is being registered as opposed to thicker articles. Thedimension C between the edge of one blade contacting the label to theeffective edge of the next blade is not the same as the distance Lbetween a given point on one label to the same point on an adjacentlabel (the term label" in this discussion represents a functionalincrement since, as illustrated in FIG. 6, two or more short labels maybe accommodated between spaced blades and the increment of movement ofthe blades will be reduced to register successive shorter labels). Thedifference D between C and L is generally between 0.010-0.020 inch. Theletters D, C and L are used for convenience in description and do notappear on the drawing. Where the registering member is used to resistmovement of the label stock (FIGS. 1, 5, and 6), the distance L isgreater than dimension C and the tension in the label stock isimbalanced with a greater tension on the strip being between theregister member and the station than between thesupply and the registermember. The dimension C is greater than distance L when the registeringmember is the driver (FIG. 4), and the tension in the label stock inadvance of the registering member is greater than the tension after theregistering member. It is also to be noted that it is the blade closestto the station or the blade last to perform any work which is in contactwith an article or label on the liner.

While the devices have been described for use with labels adhered to aliner, the registering means may also be used with other emblems, seals,caps or fasteners supported on a web.

In summary, the registering members formed in accordance with thepresent invention are formed to have blades engaging the strip ofmaterial having labels or the like adhered thereto which are to behandled or processed in some manner at an adjacent station. The bladescontrol the movement of the strip by contacting the labels or the likeand determine the relative position of these labels or the like with thestation by maintaining control over the movement and position of theblades. The article control and/or blade position is determined by thedrive means for the registering member, signals being generated bymovement of the member or of its blades to a predetermined position, orby a releaseable brake or restraining member holding the blades in fixedlocations.

What is claimed is:

1. An article feeding and registering device for use with a strip oflabels or the like adhered releaseably to a web comprising means forsupplying a said strip from which to be fed, means defining a spacedpredetermined process station to which said labels are to be moved,means defining a path for said strip between said supply and saidstation, and means contacting said strip for advancing said strip, theimprovement comprising a movable guide and registering member, saidregistering member comprising blades each having an outer strip engagingedge with each said edge being substantially equally spaced fromadjacent blade edges and extending transversely across the width of saidpath to contact the strip, said registering member being positioned in apredetermined spaced relationship along said path with said station onone side and said means for supplying a said strip on the other side andbeing positioned to afford continuous simultaneous engagement of atleast two of said blade edges with said strip along said path,

means for maintaining a greater tension on a said strip along said pathon one side of said registering member than on the other, and

means mounting said registering member to afford continuous movement ofsaid blades in one direction in relationship to said path, and forcontrolling the movement of said blades along said path for determiningthe relative position of the labels or the like of said strip with saidstation as said strip is advanced along said path.

2. The article feeding and registering device of claim 1 wherein saidstrip guide and registering member comprises a hub mounted for rotationand said blades extend from said hub with at least the end portionsthereof being disposed at an angle to the radius and with said edgesbeing parallel to the axis of said hub.

3. The article feeding and registering device of claim 1 wherein saidstrip guide and registering member comprises an endless member with saidblades projecting therefrom, the edge of each of said blades having asharp corner and a smooth surface such that the edge will contact an endof a said label or the like.

4. The article feeding and registering device of claim 1 wherein saidmeans for controlling said blades comprises an incremental steppingclutch to transfer a driving force to said registering member affordingstepped motion to said blades through a predetermined distance.

5. The article feeding and registering device of claim 1 wherein saidmeans for controlling said blades comprises a releaseable brake memberfor stopping movement of said blades after movement thereof apredetermined distance along said path.

6. The article feeding and registering device of claim 1 wherein saidmeans affording control of said blades comprises a switch for producinga signal indicating the position of a said blade, said switch beingmounted for actuation upon predetermined movement of said registeringmember.

7. The article feeding and registering device of claim 2 wherein saidmeans for controlling said blades comprises an incremental steppingclutch to transfer a driving force to said registering member affordingstepped motion to said blades through a predetermined distance 8. Thearticle feeding and registering device of claim 2 wherein said means forcontrolling said blades comprises a releaseable brake member forstopping movement of said blades after movement thereof a predetermineddistance along said path.

9. The article feeding and registering device of claim 2 wherein saidmeans for controlling said blades comprises a switch for producing asignal indicating the position ofa said blade, said switch being mountedfor actuation upon predetermined movement of said registering member.

10. A label registering device for successively placing labels in apredetermined position at a station, said device comprising incombination:

I. a liner having a plurality of spaced labels releaseably adhered toone side of said liner;

2. means engaging said liner for continuously applying an advancingforce on said liner to move the same toward said station; 3. aregistering means operatively engageable with said liner for retardingthe movement of said liner toward said station induced by said meansengaging said liner, said registering means including a movable meanshaving a plurality of blades secured about the periphery of said movablemeans, said blades terminating in edges for engaging said one side ofsaid liner between said spaced labels, said edges being spaced so thatthe dimension between the label engaging edges of two adjacent blades isnot equal to the distance between two identical points of two adjacentlabels, means mounting said movable means to afford continuous movementin one direction, and said movable means being positioned relative tosaid liner and labels to afford continuous simultaneous engagement of atleast two of said blades with said liner and labels; and

4. means defining a station for separating said labels from said linerfor successively placing said labels on a product moving through saidstation.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said movable means includes ahub and a plurality of blades secured about the periphery of said huband said device includes means for controlling the rotational movementofsaid hub.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said dimension is greaterthan said distance and said means for controlling the rotationalmovement comprises drive means for said hub.

13. A device according to claim 11 wherein said dimension is less thansaid distance and said means for controlling the rotational movementcomprises means for retarding movement ofsaid hub.

* III *k UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTT Patent No.6 13 5 Dated March 21, 1972 Inventor(s) Wilfred E. Stageber'g It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: I

Col. 3, line 5, "eluding" should be eluded Col. 3, line 46, after"registering" the words disk 31.

Release of the pawl, permits the label-registering should be added.

Signed and'sealed this 9th day of January 1973..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. I ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM 0-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 50376-P69 u.s. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: I969 O366334

1. An article feeding and registering device for use with a strip oflabels or the like adhered releaseably to a web comprising means foRsupplying a said strip from which to be fed, means defining a spacedpredetermined process station to which said labels are to be moved,means defining a path for said strip between said supply and saidstation, and means contacting said strip for advancing said strip, theimprovement comprising a movable guide and registering member, saidregistering member comprising blades each having an outer strip engagingedge with each said edge being substantially equally spaced fromadjacent blade edges and extending transversely across the width of saidpath to contact the strip, said registering member being positioned in apredetermined spaced relationship along said path with said station onone side and said means for supplying a said strip on the other side andbeing positioned to afford continuous simultaneous engagement of atleast two of said blade edges with said strip along said path, means formaintaining a greater tension on a said strip along said path on oneside of said registering member than on the other, and means mountingsaid registering member to afford continuous movement of said blades inone direction in relationship to said path, and for controlling themovement of said blades along said path for determining the relativeposition of the labels or the like of said strip with said station assaid strip is advanced along said path.
 2. The article feeding andregistering device of claim 1 wherein said strip guide and registeringmember comprises a hub mounted for rotation and said blades extend fromsaid hub with at least the end portions thereof being disposed at anangle to the radius and with said edges being parallel to the axis ofsaid hub.
 2. means engaging said liner for continuously applying anadvancing force on said liner to move the same toward said station;
 3. aRegistering means operatively engageable with said liner for retardingthe movement of said liner toward said station induced by said meansengaging said liner, said registering means including a movable meanshaving a plurality of blades secured about the periphery of said movablemeans, said blades terminating in edges for engaging said one side ofsaid liner between said spaced labels, said edges being spaced so thatthe dimension between the label engaging edges of two adjacent blades isnot equal to the distance between two identical points of two adjacentlabels, means mounting said movable means to afford continuous movementin one direction, and said movable means being positioned relative tosaid liner and labels to afford continuous simultaneous engagement of atleast two of said blades with said liner and labels; and
 3. The articlefeeding and registering device of claim 1 wherein said strip guide andregistering member comprises an endless member with said bladesprojecting therefrom, the edge of each of said blades having a sharpcorner and a smooth surface such that the edge will contact an end of asaid label or the like.
 4. The article feeding and registering device ofclaim 1 wherein said means for controlling said blades comprises anincremental stepping clutch to transfer a driving force to saidregistering member affording stepped motion to said blades through apredetermined distance.
 4. means defining a station for separating saidlabels from said liner for successively placing said labels on a productmoving through said station.
 5. The article feeding and registeringdevice of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling said bladescomprises a releaseable brake member for stopping movement of saidblades after movement thereof a predetermined distance along said path.6. The article feeding and registering device of claim 1 wherein saidmeans affording control of said blades comprises a switch for producinga signal indicating the position of a said blade, said switch beingmounted for actuation upon predetermined movement of said registeringmember.
 7. The article feeding and registering device of claim 2 whereinsaid means for controlling said blades comprises an incremental steppingclutch to transfer a driving force to said registering member affordingstepped motion to said blades through a predetermined distance.
 8. Thearticle feeding and registering device of claim 2 wherein said means forcontrolling said blades comprises a releaseable brake member forstopping movement of said blades after movement thereof a predetermineddistance along said path.
 9. The article feeding and registering deviceof claim 2 wherein said means for controlling said blades comprises aswitch for producing a signal indicating the position of a said blade,said switch being mounted for actuation upon predetermined movement ofsaid registering member.
 10. A label registering device for successivelyplacing labels in a predetermined position at a station, said devicecomprising in combination:
 11. A device according to claim 10 whereinsaid movable means includes a hub and a plurality of blades securedabout the periphery of said hub and said device includes means forcontrolling the rotational movement of said hub.
 12. A device accordingto claim 11 wherein said dimension is greater than said distance andsaid means for controlling the rotational movement comprises drive meansfor said hub.
 13. A device according to claim 11 wherein said dimensionis less than said distance and said means for controlling the rotationalmovement comprises means for retarding movement of said hub.